A workshop experience with Donna Farhi
Like or dislike the term, there are ‘superstars’ in yoga and few would dispute that Donna Farhi is one of the brightest - illuminating and inspiring yogis since she began teaching in 1982. She is one of the most sought- after guest teachers, leading intensives and teacher training programs internationally. She has written a number of books which are widely used including Yoga Mind, Body & Spirit, The Breathing Book and Teaching Yoga: Exploring the Teacher-Student Relationship.
Donna Farhi may be a star, but in person she has a gracious humanity and a willingness to share her experience, passions and knowledge with her students. Dressed simply in a bright t-shirt and yoga pants, she wears toe shoes throughout the workshop and uses a voice amplifier to ensure her words are heard without strain. Her back is straight and she moves with ease through the bright studio in Primrose Hill, London. The short, wavy bob, strong features and bright smile, are all familiar from her book covers and videos.
Her recent workshops at Triyoga, London not only showcased her reputation as a talented teacher -
with an emphasis on correct alignment and sensitive adjustment – but, were followed by a two-day workshop on Yoga Nidra. For Donna this is part of her own journey and draws on her spiritual practice, which threads through her work, inseparable from her own practice and experience as a teacher.
She explains that she has been influenced by her
long friendship with Dr Richard Miller who she has known since her 20s and last year attended his iRest training in Australia. iRest (Integrative Restoration) is a modern adaptation of the ancient non-dual meditation practice of Yoga Nidra and Dr Miller has researched its efficacy on health, healing and well-being with diverse populations including military personnel, different age groups and people experiencing sleep disorders.
Donna says the practice has allowed her to create
a ‘physical resource’ in her own body, which is particularly helpful in times of challenge. “Cueing yourself to enter a state of calmness in the nervous system is harder to do when things go wrong, or you
are feeling overwhelmed,” she explains. “Sometimes action needs to be taken or we will be hijacking our inner resource and that action may need to be taken outside of the boundaries of our yoga mats.”
Donna explains that the practice of Yoga Nidra can uncover hidden layers of feelings. “When we begin to relax, we may experience a deep level of fatigue – a level of exhaustion under the surface – or a deeper visitor, such as anxiety and denial. This realisation may require action and lead to changes in the way we live our lives.” One way to do this is to look for ways to minimise ‘red zone’ experiences and ‘reset’ the mind and body to the ‘green zone’, through practices such as restorative yoga and Yoga Nidra.
Discussing the human need for safety (sharing her own joy on returning home after her travels) she sees Yoga Nidra as a way of helping the mind to default back
to its correct state of being calm and peaceful. “The brain stem’s fundamental need is safety. We need the protection of the herd, to be able to say; ‘I am safe and amongst friends.’ Yoga Nidra helps us contradict our emotions and take command of our own experiences.”
So how do we practice Yoga Nidra and incorporate
the benefits into our daily lives? Not surprisingly, the answer is practise! An open mind and state of physical relaxation provide the conditions to harvest the individual effects; revealing the infinite nature of our true selves, leading to transformation and acceptance. “We are attempting to build emotional fitness and develop our emotional muscle so that it does not fracture. Although we may experience many feelings and emotions, we do not need to identify these with our centred self,” says Donna.
After her travels Donna will be returning to her 30 acre estate in New Zealand where she trains horses and develops her dressage skills. An exciting adventure for a yoga teacher and writer, but both requiring strength of purpose and sensitivity – qualities that Donna not only has herself, but is able to develop in others.
Published in
Spectrum, Spring 2015
Like or dislike the term, there are ‘superstars’ in yoga and few would dispute that Donna Farhi is one of the brightest - illuminating and inspiring yogis since she began teaching in 1982. She is one of the most sought- after guest teachers, leading intensives and teacher training programs internationally. She has written a number of books which are widely used including Yoga Mind, Body & Spirit, The Breathing Book and Teaching Yoga: Exploring the Teacher-Student Relationship.
Donna Farhi may be a star, but in person she has a gracious humanity and a willingness to share her experience, passions and knowledge with her students. Dressed simply in a bright t-shirt and yoga pants, she wears toe shoes throughout the workshop and uses a voice amplifier to ensure her words are heard without strain. Her back is straight and she moves with ease through the bright studio in Primrose Hill, London. The short, wavy bob, strong features and bright smile, are all familiar from her book covers and videos.
Her recent workshops at Triyoga, London not only showcased her reputation as a talented teacher -
with an emphasis on correct alignment and sensitive adjustment – but, were followed by a two-day workshop on Yoga Nidra. For Donna this is part of her own journey and draws on her spiritual practice, which threads through her work, inseparable from her own practice and experience as a teacher.
She explains that she has been influenced by her
long friendship with Dr Richard Miller who she has known since her 20s and last year attended his iRest training in Australia. iRest (Integrative Restoration) is a modern adaptation of the ancient non-dual meditation practice of Yoga Nidra and Dr Miller has researched its efficacy on health, healing and well-being with diverse populations including military personnel, different age groups and people experiencing sleep disorders.
Donna says the practice has allowed her to create
a ‘physical resource’ in her own body, which is particularly helpful in times of challenge. “Cueing yourself to enter a state of calmness in the nervous system is harder to do when things go wrong, or you
are feeling overwhelmed,” she explains. “Sometimes action needs to be taken or we will be hijacking our inner resource and that action may need to be taken outside of the boundaries of our yoga mats.”
Donna explains that the practice of Yoga Nidra can uncover hidden layers of feelings. “When we begin to relax, we may experience a deep level of fatigue – a level of exhaustion under the surface – or a deeper visitor, such as anxiety and denial. This realisation may require action and lead to changes in the way we live our lives.” One way to do this is to look for ways to minimise ‘red zone’ experiences and ‘reset’ the mind and body to the ‘green zone’, through practices such as restorative yoga and Yoga Nidra.
Discussing the human need for safety (sharing her own joy on returning home after her travels) she sees Yoga Nidra as a way of helping the mind to default back
to its correct state of being calm and peaceful. “The brain stem’s fundamental need is safety. We need the protection of the herd, to be able to say; ‘I am safe and amongst friends.’ Yoga Nidra helps us contradict our emotions and take command of our own experiences.”
So how do we practice Yoga Nidra and incorporate
the benefits into our daily lives? Not surprisingly, the answer is practise! An open mind and state of physical relaxation provide the conditions to harvest the individual effects; revealing the infinite nature of our true selves, leading to transformation and acceptance. “We are attempting to build emotional fitness and develop our emotional muscle so that it does not fracture. Although we may experience many feelings and emotions, we do not need to identify these with our centred self,” says Donna.
After her travels Donna will be returning to her 30 acre estate in New Zealand where she trains horses and develops her dressage skills. An exciting adventure for a yoga teacher and writer, but both requiring strength of purpose and sensitivity – qualities that Donna not only has herself, but is able to develop in others.
Published in
Spectrum, Spring 2015
